Improvement in shoe-fastenings



tanni, gaat WILLIAM POWELL WARE,VOF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Letters Patent No. 107,572, l(lated September 20, 1870; antetlatecl September 5, 1870.

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. IMPRQVEMENT I`N -sHoE-FASTENINGS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all lwhom it may concern:

Be it knownv that I, `WILLIAM lown'nn WARE, of the city and State of New York, have invented an Improved Fastening for Shoes; and the following is hereby declared to be a correct description'thereot'.

Eyelets are usually provided for thc string or shoelaee to be threaded through, in shoes that are laced up, but hooks have been employed for the lace to be passed under, as it is led from one hook to the next.

In those cases Where hooks have been used, they have been made of' sheet met-al,A the hook projecting from a plate that is fastened upon the surface of the leather, but the metal plate is unsightly and liable to become detached, or the hook bent. l

In other instances, a wire hook has passed through a hole in the leather, the base f the 'hook being fastened beneath the leather. has been liable to draw up through the leather, and project unduly, or else the base ofthe hook has acted as a Wedge to enlarge the hole through which the hook passes.

lhe metal plate or hase of the hook is attached byv clinched points to the hack of the leather of the shoe,

or to a counter, so as to be out of sight, but 'form a very strong base for the hook, and one that cannot draw up through the perforation inthe leather for the hook, because'said plate projects in the form of wings at both sides of the hook, where it is bent up from the plate.

In the drawing- Figure l is a perspective view, representing a portion of a shoe with my improved hooks applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a plan 5 I Figure 3 is a section at the line az; and

Figure 4 is asectional plan at the line y y.

These igures, except iig. 1, are of an enlarged size.

The hook is made of sheet metal, the base a llaving spurs or penetrating points l) l).

'.llie'hook portion' is turned up in a compound curved form, the throat at c being curved over toward the button end d, and curved backward, so as to form a round surface for the lace, as seen in iig. 4.

rIhe base of the hook is to be eut wider than the l In this last case the hook upper part of the throatgso as to be of the proper shape to give the required strength, and the end or top portion of the hook is shown as convex, so as. t0

`resemble a button in appearance, and lessen Wear upon' any portions of the garment that may comeA into contact with said hooks, but this end might be of any dcsired shape.

The spurs b are to be turned up, if the plate c is to be attached to the back ofthe leather of the shoe', but if the plate is to be connected to a strip or counter, the spurs are to be turned back, so as to pass through said counter and bev clinched, and this counter is to bc attached to the shoe by sewing.

It is to be understood that the ho'ok is to be passed through a perforation in the leather, and that the plate a, extending beyond the hook in the form of wings, 2 2, prevents the base of the hook being drawn partially through'the opening in the leather, by any strain on the hook, from motion of the hook or otherwise, and said wings give an increased bearing-surface, to prevent the back of' the hook pressing upon the foot. n

The counter might be applied upon the surface of the shoe, the plate labeing beneath it. The counter may be made with a double ro\v of said hooks attached in place, and then the counter applied to the shoe and sewn thereto, previous to the counter'being cut open longitudinally.

My improved hook for shoe-laces is strong, easily applied, durable, ornamental to the shoe, and the lacing easily and rapidly performed, and not liable 4to slip out of the hooks.

The shape of the hook is such that the lace draws closely' down upon the surface of the leather, and, in consequence ol' the wings or extensions ofthe plate 'a around the hook, there isno yopportunity for the hook to be drawn up throughthe leather, or for theleat-her to be pressed down, so as to expose the hooi; unduly, and the strain ofthe lace upon the hook does not distort the leather of the shoe.

I claim as my il'ivention-- 1. lhe wings 2 2 of lthe plate a, extending beyond the hook, so as to prevent the base ofthe hook being drawn into the hole in the leather, through which the hook passes, as set forth.

2. The hook c tl, spurs b, and wings 2, made of a plate of metal, and forming a. shoe-fastening, substantially as set forth.

Signed this 28th day of January, A. I). 18.70.

XV. POWELL WARE.

Witnesses OHAs. H. Saturn' Guo. TfPINcKNnY. 

